Maroon algae or bacteria?

[choosymother]

I have maroon colored slime in my refugium, which is making its way into my tank. Is this algae, or bacteria? How do I get rid of it in the display tank?

 

[raisedonnintendo]

Bacteria. Water change, cut back on feeding, ciphon out, do the hookey pookey and turn yourself around that's what it's all about!!!!

 

[fish scales2]

Are you skimming?

 

[jaredloo]

Cyano Bacteria. Nasty stuff. This is a debated topic, some people try to do it naturally. But honestly, from experience, once you've got it, you've got it. I treat my tank once every 6 months with an anti-biotic.

I have used various ones. DO NOT USE CHEMICLEAN. If you do anything wrong you will crash your tank.

I like Ultralife's Red Slime Remover. You don't have to do anything special, just add according to directions. It's reef safe, I used it in an SPS tank and didn't lose a thing. In a couple of days the red slime will die, and you can siphon it out.

 

[jaredloo]

I say Ultralife Red Slime Remover. Because I tried naturally for months and never beat it. I even did a dark period for an entire week. Covered the aquarium and kept the lights off. It cleared it, but within 2 weeks it was starting to come back. The Red Slime Remover kills it.

The only draw back, is that it also kills beneficial bacteria, it doesn't discriminate. So for a month you'll have to do water changes on a weekly basis, and run extra carbon. But it's worth it in my opinion. Gone for good. Like I said, I treat mine 1 time every 6 months.

 

[thbrewst]

I had a lot of this after setting up my tank (and still have a little) but threw a bunch of snails in my fuge and they knocked most of it out. Has kind of stabilized for the past 2 months.

 

[mvm]

bratliff;591490 wrote: So, wait, lemme get this straight. You are basically advocating destroying your biological filter every six months rather than correct the issue with the tank. :confused2:

In my experience, once you've rid yourself of it, it doesn't come back. Correct the issue and, if it's a new tank, let your biological filter mature. It took about two months for this in my current system. I hated looking at my tank the entire time and dreaded all the work that went into it, but, now the only algea problem I have is all the macro that I grow in my fuge and I haven't seen a hint of cyano.

Agreed. All tanks can have cyano. Nutrient rich tanks, new tank, will have it ALWAYS. Once things stabilize, the nutrients are exported (via water change/skimmer/ect.) and the cyano goes away. To say that if you ever have it, it will always be a problem is laughable.....:lol2:

 

[raisedonnintendo]

Blue leg crabs throw in at least 1 per gallon 2 is better they eat cyano and keep alot of waste down in your tank since the are scrap eaters.

 

[ichthyoid]

MvM;591496 wrote: Agreed. All tanks can have cyano. Nutrient rich tanks, new tank, will have it ALWAYS. Once things stabilize, the nutrients are exported (via water change/skimmer/ect.) and the cyano goes away. To say that if you ever have it, it will always be a problem is laughable.....:lol2:

+1

Well said- IME.